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-Senate honors memory of Capitol Police Officer Jacob Joseph Chestnut and Detective John Michael Gibson-

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Friday in honor of the memory of Capitol Police Officer Jacob Joseph Chestnut and Detective John Michael Gibson:

“Mr. President, when we stand in this Capitol dedicated to freedom, we must remember freedom’s costs. And so today I rise to speak about Jacob Joseph Chestnut and John Michael Gibson.

“Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson, both of the Capitol Police, gave their lives 11 years ago today in defense of the men and women who work in and visit the Capitol.

“A plaque in this building commemorates their bravery. Their names have been etched upon the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which stands one mile from here. And the headquarters of the United States Capitol Police bears their names.

“Officer Chestnut, or J.J. to his friends, was a 20-year veteran of the Air Force, and had 18 years of service to the Capitol Police. John Gibson also had 18 years of Capitol Police service, and until that day had never had to draw his weapon.

“Both men left behind wives, children, beloved family members and friends. Both men were part of an elite team: Capitol Police officers, with their unique mission, are charged with protecting not only our lives but our very system of government.

“My friend the Majority Leader, a former Capitol Police officer himself, knows both the honor and the danger that comes with the job. And so as we honor Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson today, we also honor every man and woman of the Capitol Police who has bravely volunteered for this hazardous but important duty.

“So today the United States Senate honors J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson. We are grateful for their heroic sacrifice. And we remember their families, who we embrace as we would our own. Mr. President, I yield the floor.”

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‘Last night, the President, to his credit, reiterated what the American people have been saying for weeks: that the Democratic health care proposals we've seen so far aren’t where they need to be. I couldn’t agree with him more’

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform:

“Last night, the President, to his credit, reiterated what the American people have been saying for weeks: that the Democratic health care proposals we've seen so far aren’t where they need to be. I couldn’t agree with him more. President Obama also said that rising health care costs are an imminent threat to our economy and that any reform must reduce these long-term costs.

“The problems the President highlighted are real and, here again, Republicans agree with him. Unfortunately, the solutions to these problems are not in the Democrat plans now working their way through Congress. In fact, the bills we've seen would make these problems even worse. The Director of the Congressional Budget Office has said that these proposals would increase overall health care spending, not reduce it. All of us want health care reform. But we want reform that brings down costs and long-term spending, not a so-called reform that makes things even worse.

“The President also said health care reform must not increase the national debt. Republicans agree with that too. But, again, both Democrat bills we’ve seen would saddle Americans with hundreds of billions of dollars of additional debt, making the situation even worse. Just yesterday, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve warned that unless we get serious about spending and debt, we’re endangering not only our recovery from the current recession but also endangering future economic growth. That is why he said any health care reform must get control of costs. Otherwise, it could bankrupt both our government and eventually our entire economy.

“So the last thing we need is a flawed health care bill that adds to the national debt and increases long-term health care costs. Instead of trying to rush through proposals that don’t work, we need to take the time to do it right and make the reforms the American people are asking for—reforms that won’t put us on the road to bankruptcy.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced Thursday that his legislation to renew sanctions against the Burmese government has passed the Senate and is now on its way to the President’s desk for his signature. The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act was cosponsored by Senators McConnell and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). McConnell made the following statement regarding passage of the legislation:

“As in years past, this resolution will extend import sanctions for another year against Burmese goods in order to maintain economic pressure on the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). It also continues the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act, which was enacted last year and further increased sanctions against the junta.

“In some circles the value of sanctions has been questioned and, at some point, greater engagement with the regime may be in order. However, by passing this measure, Congress has clearly concluded that such a change in policy would be premature, and for good reason. The very fact that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been put on trial by the regime for trumped-up charges reflects how essential it is to continue these measures against the SPDC. To do otherwise would implicitly condone the junta’s actions in trying her. It also would turn a blind eye to the regime having imprisoned Suu Kyi for 13 of the past 20 years, to say nothing of the scores of less well-known political prisoners who currently languish in Burmese prisons.

“UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s recent trip to Burma, I think, demonstrates yet again the true nature of this regime. During his visit, he was denied access to Suu Kyi and apparently received no concessions from the junta. This reflects that it is the SPDC that does not want to engage meaningfully with the international community, not the other way around. Therefore, my colleagues and I believe that sanctions against the junta should remain in place until such time as the regime truly commits itself to a course of democratization and reconciliation.

“Nor should anyone be fooled by the junta’s transparent efforts to legitimize its rule through the scheduled 2010 elections. By excluding Suu Kyi from participating in the elections and by including provisions that would permanently entrench military rule, the new Burmese charter is no more legitimate than the regime that sponsored it. More than halfway through 2009, it is hard to see how next year’s elections in Burma are redeemable.

“Congress’s posture toward the Burmese regime is not just borne out of humanitarian concerns; it also involves important national security considerations. Just this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly raised questions about alleged military links between the junta and North Korea. The details of the Burmese-North Korean relationship are murky but, according to the Washington Post, concern has been raised among U.S. officials about a possible budding nuclear relationship between the two autocracies.

“Finally, I note that this resolution has brought together 66 members of this chamber as cosponsors, more cosponsors than any previous year. This showing reflects yet again the genuine bipartisan support for the people of Burma and opposition to the junta’s rule. In this effort, I was pleased to work closely again with my friend Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has long been a vigorous advocate for the Burmese people. Senators McCain and Durbin have also been stalwarts in their support for freedom in Burma, and they once again were at the vanguard of this legislative undertaking.”

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Recent Press Releases

McConnell Honors ‘Heroic Sacrifice’ of Chestnut, Gibson

July 24, 2009

The President is Right: Dem Health Bills Aren’t Ready

July 23, 2009

Bill to Renew Sanctions Against the Burmese Government Passes Senate

July 23, 2009